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Cut wires, cut cost: Wireless display tech here to stay?

Intel’s latest processors and vPro tech wants to do for productivity, what WiFi did for computing – unwire it. Intel has said they want to do this for the longest time, and they are finally closer than ever before, to making it a reality.

The very compelling wireless display capability for example, has the potential to transform meeting rooms into cable-free zones, and VP and GM of Intel’s Business Client Platforms Division, Tom Garrison was happy to point out how the solution is more robust now than it used to be.

“At the office, the environment tends to be ‘noisier’ with lots of connectivity technologies. From a wireless radio perspective, the enterprise is a challenging space.

“Now, Intel Pro Wireless Display (WiDi), is an engineered solution that is optimised for the typical workplace environment,” he said.

Tom Garrison

The amount of time, people are willing to wait for their machines to project to a screen is low, and the Miracast-based technology is apparently now, up to the task.

There are also other workplace requirements that Garrison said WiDi is addressing like low framedrop rates, seamless handoffs, and a privacy screen feature that ensures a device does not accidentally project to the wrong screen.

The solution requires an adapter that attaches to a projector or LCD screen, so that a computer with a vPro client can scan, detect, connect and start projecting from it or onto it. Even Android-based smartphones would be able to project their screens, albeit without the built-in security features of Intel vPro.

Panasonic would be releasing the world’s first portable LCD projector that supports Intel Pro WiDi, in May. The PT-VW355N and PT-VX425N projectors, provide easy projection of a PC or Android device screen via wireless LAN, and without needing an adapter.

Savings
According to HP’s global CIO, Ramon Baez, there is a potential half billion dollars savings, when using these type of technologies.

Intel’s own IT arm, captured five minutes of lost productivity per meeting, by using wireless display and wireless docking solutions. For example, as workers approach their workspace, Intel Wireless Gigabit Docking will connect to their PCs, so they can be productive right away.

In workplace transformation projects worth over USD1 billion each, 3 big organisations had consulted with Intel the last 3 months, on how to optimise Intel’s technologies for a more shared and collaborative work environment.

Garrison said, “This isn’t driven by technology. It is driven by companies that want to be as competitive as possible. So, they need to evolve their people and they need technologies, to do that.”